BLACKMAILED BY THE BILLIONAIRE

Chapter 5: Unveiling the Facade

The day was an endless marathon of Harry's whims, each task a deliberate attempt to assert his control over me. It was as if he was punishing me, a relentless show of power for daring to think I could walk away from him. His summons to his office felt like a call to the principal's office, each step I took towards it heavy with a mix of dread and defiance.

Entering Harry's domain, the atmosphere was tense, charged with unspoken animosity. He was engrossed in his laptop, his fingers flying over the keyboard with an intensity that matched the storm brewing in his eyes. I stood there, a silent sentinel, refusing to break the tension first. This was his game, his rules, but I wasn't going to play along.

The minutes stretched on, the only sound in the room the incessant tapping of keys. It was a test, a waiting game, and I stood resolute, my patience a shield against his silent assault. When he finally looked up, his eyes were cold, calculating, trying to unravel my stoic facade.

"Bella," he began, his voice a mix of condescension and genuine curiosity. "Why the sudden desire to leave? Is it money? If you want a raise, it's yours. Just ask."

His offer, so out of touch with the root of my discontent, only fueled my frustration. "It's not about the money, Harry," I replied, my voice laced with a bitterness I didn't bother to hide. "It's about respect, about having a life outside these walls. You've made my existence a living hell."

He leaned back, his demeanor shifting from a confident CEO to something more contemplative. "People would kill for the opportunity to work here, to be by my side. What's so terrible about your life here, Bella?"

His question, so oblivious to the reality of my experience, made my blood boil. "You really don't get it, do you, Harry? You think because you offer money and glamor, that's enough. But what about my time, my sanity? You've consumed my life, and for what? To be your on-call servant, at your beck and call day and night?"

My voice, raw with emotion, seemed to catch Harry off guard. For the first time, he fell silent, genuinely listening to my outpouring of frustration and exhaustion. "I never realized you felt this way... I thought you enjoyed the perks, the lifestyle," he admitted, his voice tinged with a hint of confusion.

His words, showcasing his obliviousness to my genuine sentiments, only fueled my determination. "Perks and a paycheck can't compensate for the absence of respect and autonomy, Harry. You've ensured that I have no life beyond you, that I'm at your beck and call. I need more than that; I need a life of my own, I need to socialize with others."

For a fleeting moment, a crack appeared in Harry's usually unbreakable façade. It was as if he was seeing me for the first time, not just as an employee, but as a human being with desires and needs beyond his corporate empire.

He rubbed his chin, his gaze fixed on me, contemplative yet still distant. "I'll think about what you've said, Bella," he said eventually, giving nothing away.

Hope flickered in me as I moved towards the door. But his voice stopped me in my tracks. "Actually, Bella, wait."

I turned, a mix of hope and apprehension swirling inside me. Has he finally understood? Was he going to release me from the contract?

As I approached his desk, Harry closed the distance between us. His presence was overwhelming, and for a moment, his gaze softened, revealing a vulnerability that was quickly masked by his usual authoritative demeanor. I dared to believe that he might have had a change of heart.

But his next words shattered any illusion of empathy. "You're right. You are like my personal slave. And the sooner you accept that, the easier it will be for you," he said, his voice eerily calm.

His words struck me like a punch to the gut. He continued, worsening the blow, "I've increased your salary by 25%. And if that's not enough, don't hesitate to let me know. I have no problem increasing it further if that's your wish. It should be adequate to keep you content, Bella."

The sheer audacity of his statement, the blatant disregard for my feelings, ignited a rage within me. How could he think money could erase the constant disrespect and manipulation?

Before I could react, Harry leaned in closer, his lips barely brushing against my ear as he whispered, "Be a good girl and accept what I've said, yeah?"

The unwanted sensation that rippled through me was both alarming and confusing. My body's reaction to his proximity, to the brush of his lips against my skin, was a betrayal I couldn't comprehend. I was repulsed and yet, disturbingly, stirred by his closeness.

He noticed my flushed cheeks and inches even closer, his gaze fixed on my lips. "Do you want to seal the deal with a kiss?" he taunted, his voice dripping with seduction. "I can tell you want it. Your body's practically screaming for it." His words sent a shiver down my spine, a mix of desire and apprehension coursing through me.

Rushing out of Harry's office, the lingering warmth of his breath on my skin felt like a tantalizing tease of heaven. His words, smooth as silk yet dripping with authority, echoed in my mind, stirring up a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Confusion, disgust, and an unexpected surge of primal desire clashed within me, igniting a fierce internal struggle I hadn't anticipated

"I hate him," I whispered to myself, a desperate affirmation to quell the turmoil his proximity had sparked. It was absurd, the way my body had betrayed my loathing, reacting to his closeness, his undeniable physical appeal. Every woman had a weakness for a man like Harry - it was involuntary, biological. But that didn't mean I was falling for his manipulative tactics.

"Don't fall for it," I admonished myself, striding through the office corridors. He's fucking using his charm, his goddamn sex appeal, as a goddamn weapon. My resolve hardened with each goddamn step. His allure, his filthy rich status, his goddamn infuriatingly attractive persona – none of it would fucking sway my decision. My body's reaction was nothing but a goddamn physical anomaly, a fleeting fucking lapse I refused to acknowledge.

But as I stormed forward, my mind replayed his words, his voice dripping with honeyed temptation. "You know you want it, Bella," he'd whispered, his tone laced with wicked intent. Fuck, why did it have to sound so goddamn enticing? I clenched my jaw, pushing back against the flood of desire threatening to consume me. This wasn't a fucking game. I wouldn't let him win.

The evening sky outside my window deepened into shades of twilight, casting long shadows across the city. In the solitude of my office, the reality of my situation settled heavily on my shoulders. The thought of the contract, binding me to Harry for another five years, felt like an unbreakable shackle. But as I sat there, a quiet resolve began to form within me. There had to be a way out. A loophole, a forgotten clause – something that could release me from this nightmare.

"No, Bella, don't give up," I whispered to myself, a silent pep talk in the empty room. There's a way out of this. There has to be. I just need to find it.

The notion of escaping Harry's grasp, of reclaiming my freedom, was a distant glimmer of hope in the darkness that had become my life. I was determined to find that backdoor, to break free from the contract that held me captive.

With a renewed sense of purpose, I started plotting my next steps. It wouldn't be easy. Harry was a formidable adversary, his resources and influence far-reaching. But I was no longer just fighting for my career; I was fighting for my very essence, for the right to live my life on my terms.

As the office grew quiet and the city lights flickered to life outside, I knew one thing for certain: I was ready for this battle. Harry might have thought he owned me, but I was going to prove him wrong. I was Bella Thompson, and I wasn't going down without a fight.